8 easy steps to start a successful Ecommerce business

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Step 1: Find your niche!

One of the greatest challenges for a business selling online is competing with already existing major players. Major players will have a lion share of the market and penetrating into that would be a herculean task and most fail in doing so. But if you want to build your brand by selling online, you will need to look at the narrower segment (narrow market niche) of the market where the players are less and chance to build a brand and provide value-added products is high.

Step 2: Make your business official

Before you start selling you will need to research well on to requirements for selling online i.e. you will need to figure out the permissions required, the structure of your business, licenses, etc. These are the key things while starting an online selling business, you will need to understand the business requirements and make your business official by having the required permits, licenses, and registry. 

Step 3: Pick an e-commerce platform

An e-commerce platform is the heart of your online store website and you have to pick the right platform for you. Sellers who consider ease-of-use should go for cloud-based eCommerce software. These all-in-one selling solutions typically provide you with website builder tools, customer support, and secure website hosting. But if you have a decent amount of technical experience and need complete control of your website then there an open-source software would the choice for you.

Don't forget to set your selling policies i.e. shipping time, area/region for shipping, etc.

Step 4: Payment Gateway

Payments are an important part of your online store. If you want to receive payments on your online store then you will require a payment processor. You typically have two options int his case, one being where you create a merchant on the website or you integrate a payment service provider. You will need to create your stores, refund, and cancellations policies to ensure a smooth shopping experience for your customers.

Here you would also want to get your website SSL certified (security certificate) to ensure that your customers feel secure with their payments. You can get this from your hosting provider site for a few additional bucks.

Step 5: Set up an online store

Once you have an e-commerce platform to start creating your online store website, you can choose from the available ready to use templates for your online store. You can make customizations as you like and add inventory and set the price of your products on your online store. Here make sure you have factored in the search engine optimization (SEO) strategy as you would want to make your online store mobile and search-friendly.

Step 6: Tools of the trade

Once your store is set up, it is important to choose the right tools to work with as they will make your job easier and efficient. Choose tools to manage your SEO, accounting, customer support, etc. This helps in ensuring a smooth shopping experience for your customers.

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Step 7: Market your store

Now that your store is set up it is time to make your store or promote it. There are a variety of ways to market your online stores such as email marketing, social media, word-of-mouth, online advertising, and much more! Whatever methods you choose, make sure they are sustainable in the long run, and that you can maintain a good return on investment.

Step 8: Research, learn & Improve

Keep researching and improving! In the beginning, you will have to wear many hats like CEO, sales head, Accounting, graphic designer, web developer, head of marketing, and more. But as your busy with all these different roles, it is important to keep researching and improving on the go as you experience along the journey. 

To conclude I would like to say, an E-commerce business or running an online store requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and passion to stick to your vision of your business. Like said above you will have to take care of a lot of different aspects of your business in the initial stages but once you have a steady ship you will also see the fruits of your hard work and dedication. It is a tough but enjoyable and rewarding journey.

D-mindspace by Sunny Naik

Instagram Reels: A new feature not a separate App

Image credit: Instagram

Instagram has come up with a new feature on their app, that gives its users something to cherish after the Tin Tok ban in the nation. Reels feature lets you create short videos similar to Tik Tok and caters to need of platform for short videos.

The timing to bring in this feature on to the Instagram platform couldn’t have been any better as the Government has put ban on Tik Tok and the demand has hit roof with many apps trying to replicate the magic formula.

Reels is available for users on Instagram in India along with already existing features such as boomerang, live,super zoom etc. With giant like Tik Tok being banned, demand for made in India apps short video apps are gaining momentum and popularity. These apps are clocking in millions of users everyday. Facebook that owns Instagram also wants to utilise this opportunity to move Tik Tok users to Reels.

Reels is no new app that is trying to make its mark but an option integrated within the already popular Instagram app. With this huge user base of Instagram will have the opportunity to try the new reels feature.

READ | How to get started with Reels

1. First, open the Instagram app and swipe right to access the camera.
2. Scroll through the bottom bar to find ‘Reels’ feature.
3. Like the other options long press the video button and record the video.
4. Want to add music? Add a song by selecting the music icon to the left.
5. Increase the speed of the video with icon below.
6. Also add filters by selecting the icon on Reels.
7. Fourth option on Reels will the add timer option.
8. And lastly, you can align the video and get that extra effect.

READ | Instagram Reels is now available in India, but can it replace Tik Tok

How Covid-19 has changed Digital Marketing

As the Global pandemic hit unexpectedly, it has changed lives of people all over the globe. Uncertainty of the future has never been at its peak, with it need to know feeling or the panic for information (covid-19 news) has risen.People are desperate in look for information and signs of change.  In these trying times social media has been biggest source of content to be viewed by millions across.

Focus on Social Media

Since the beginning of the pandemic , social media app usage has increased considerably, some even say that social media is been used like never before.

Why this sudden change?

According to many leading articles and surveys conducted during March lockdown phase reports state that there is 70% increase in Facebook & other social networking user engagement.

People experiencing this pandemic first hand are hungry to learn more about the situation. They are worried about their future and their communities. The need to connect is has never been more relevant. News updates, refreshing their feeds constantly and following social, moral and political views. Where do you get access to such information or feeds easily, social media off course!

People are turning to these apps to keep them entertained, connected and informed while spending more time at home.

This has led business to turn to social media with a hope of staying afloat and relevant in these times. Can we say that its now time to seriously think of marketing in terms of Digital space!

Impact of video content

Video provides an engaging experience that gives the viewers a real life first hand idea of what is going on, it also can be shared on various platforms like Youtube and social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, snapchat etc.

Consumers enjoy video content because they are interactive, engaging and entertaining. Marketers like to promote using video as it gives them ROI and these ads resonate better with their audience and therefore giving them better results for their ads.

The new normal 

With lockdown rules and social distancing becoming the need of the hour, people are gradually getting accustomed to a way new way of life. The larger audience is now slowly moving towards the digital platforms for most of their needs, as compared to before where digital platforms only gathered attention for certain segments of the market. Social distancing and risk of being exposed to the deadly virus has led people to opt into digital consumption of information or purchase of goods and commodities online. This is now becoming the new normal and major brands have identified the shift in the their audience behaviour and choice  of interaction.

Cost effective delivery

Marketing online garners larger audience and caters to segments that would not be accessible earlier. It is now easier to get customers who otherwise would not be aware or would not tapped for the online products & services.

The boom in e-commerce businesses is the clear indication to this shift in attitude from consumers. Creating and sharing video content is cost effective for marketers and kind of impressions views is much higher than any other medium for marketing content.